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It’s been awhile since I first posted my Homemade Coconut Milk Recipe.
It is, for sure, the easiest way to make coconut milk that you can find, but it did leave a little something to be desired.
Well, thanks to one of my super duper ingenius readers, I have a fabulous update for you!
Read on for the details 
. You’ll be glad that you did.
We love coconut milk around here.
For me, my original Coconut Milk Recipe was just fine.
I mean, what can be easier than blending some dried unsweetened coconut with some plain water?
No need really to strain through a nut milk bag or strainer.
And really, this super busy mom really can’t deal with buying a whole coconut, splitting it open, and then blending and straining the contents. Maybe once in awhile for a fun homeschool project, but not on a regular basis.
But if you read the comments on my original coconut milk recipe post, you will see that some readers weren’t thrilled with the final product being a little grainy.
For me, if I blend the mixture on high in my Vitamix for 3 minutes (of course, any high speed blender will do), I really found that the graininess wasn’t a big deal, but there was quite a bit of residue in the bottom of my jar in the fridge.
Since I’m so cheap frugal, I would just stir it up before serving and call it good.
And then I would just add more filtered water to the stuff at the bottom of the jar and use it in a recipe or make a smoothie out of it.
Sure, it’s not as “amazingly thick and creamy” as the expensive stuff in the stores, but then, when you are saving something like 90% off the price, I can deal with a little graininess, you know?
Well, one of my readers shared something this past month that made the “Easiest Coconut Milk Recipe” just a tad less easy but a whole lot better.
So I am sharing that with you today.
The result?
A much creamier coconut milk for you and yours.
One reader even shared with me that she was having troubles with her coconut milk separating out a bit in her morning coffee, but since she started using this method, it wasn’t doing that anymore and she was really thrilled.
Easiest Coconut Milk Recipe
Makes 5 cups
Ingredients
1 cup dried unsweetened shredded coconut
water to make 5 cups of coconut milk (I really recommend reading Is Your Water Safe?)
Sweetener (optional. If using, add a dash of salt as well.)
Method
1. This is the new step: Grind the coconut in your blender or spice grinder until fairly finely ground. (I love this coffee grinder. I think you get a better grind in this than in the blender.)
2. Add 1 cup of water to the ground coconut in a high powered blender (like Vitamix) and blend on high for 1 minute.
3. Add water to make 5 cups of coconut milk. Blend on high for 3 minutes.
4. Enjoy and store in the refrigerator.
If you really want to make this smoother, you can strain it through a nut bag or cheesecloth. I don’t bother doing that. When it gets thick I just add some more filtered water and stir it up. We’re pretty use to “not perfect” coconut milk now .
How to Use Coconut Milk
- In recipes as a dairy free alternative, if you are dairy allergic, vegan, or just plain out of milk
- In a smoothie
- Plain – my son LOVES coconut milk with some stevia extract or my Liquid Vanilla Stevia
- Make frozen coconut milk ice cubes and add them to your favorite drinks so they aren’t diluted by regular ice cubes. This is great in coffee or tea.
- Over hot or cold cereal (we love it over my Baked Oatmeal / Oatmeal Cake)
Interesting in other Super Fast Pantry Staples? How about:
- Powdered Egg Replacer (compare to Ener-G)
- Powdered Sugar Substitute
- Easiest Almond Milk Ever
- Homemade Rice Milk
- Homemade Nut or Seed Butter
- Homemade Coconut Butter
- Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Best Cinnamon Sugar
How do you like to use Coconut Milk?
Shared at Diet, Dessert, and Dogs.
What about the fat in this coconut milk ? Not like in a can, and the 10g are really important!
What do you think ?
Can you tell me what you mean – there is no fat removed, obviously so it should all be there.
I was on my way to make more coconut milk when I saw this post. I like the original recipe just fine.
I use this coconut milk to make your oatmeal cake. The first time I made it with coconut milk and added cranberries. The second time coconut milk and chocolate chips… oh, my!! both time, it didn’t last more than 24 hours. Oh, by the way, I use a 9x 11″ dish pan, not an 8×8…and the cake is thick!! I do soak the oats for more than 24 hs… your cake is the best ever!!! thanks for the recipe.
I have passed it on to a couple of friends.
tereza crump recently posted..Learning Log of September 2012
What kind words. I haven’t made that cake in awhile – thanks for the reminder
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I’ve been using the method on the tropical traditions site and hate straining the hot liquid through the cheesecloth. Very excited to try this! One question though, what do you do about the fat separating and hardening on the top of when storing it in the fridge? I don’t know how to get it reincorporated before we drink it. Thanks in advance!
Not that much gathers typically. I am not sure why. Typically I just have solids on the bottom – let me know how it works for you!
I use the solid fat/butter that forms on top, after refrigeration, to make a brown sugar coconut scrub. My daughter and I love to use it occasionally while showering. It leaves no oily residue and your skin feels so soft afterwards.
Hi! I just found your website and I love it! I have a few questions.
Where do you recommend you purchase the dried unsweetened shredded coconut?
How long does this coconut milk stay fresh in the fridge?
Thanks!
Jen
I buy from Country Life Natural Foods in the Midwest. If you can’t buy from there, have you looked at Green Polka Dot Box? I have a few posts about them and they have a great deal on membership right now and good prices on coconut products. Check them out and let me know what you think. I can probably do another membership giveaway if that appeals to you.
We drink ours so quickly but I would think if it’s not in the door you could get about 4-6 days out of it. Ours never lasts that long
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Thank you so much for responding! Green PolkaDot looks really neat! I am in Utah. I actually called around some local natural food stores and I was able to find some organic shredded coconut for a great price and I’m going to pick it up soon. I can’t wait to try it! I am on a hunt though for almond and coconut flour since we found out a few days ago my husband has celiac’s disease. When I get some time tonight I will research Green PolkaDot some more to see if it would be a benefit to my family. Thanks again for all your help!
You’re welcome! Let me know if it appeals to you. I can either do the giveaway or work with you some other way.
Oh – did you notice Just Almonds in my sidebar? You can get 10% off their almond flour w/ code WNM right now. Really, the ad should be down so if you want it act quickly
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Hi Jen,
I buy my Raw Organic Coconut Shreds from wildernessfamilynaturals.com. The shreds are dehydrated at a lower temp and are not processed with sulfites. (I’m not affiliated with them in any way, I just love their high quality products and their prices are pretty darn good too)
I’ve actually started making mine from creamed coconut, but I will remember this when I don’t have any on hand (like right now:).
Anne recently posted..Healthy 2Day Wednesday {Week 73}
I made the coconut milk, (first time) and the coconut floats on the top. It tastes better than store bought, but wondering if I should have used hot water to dissolve the coconut?
By the way, I love your posts and recipes!
Hmmm…did you use a Vitamix?
Yes I am still happy with my new milk in my coffee! Much improved if you ask me. I also have the coconut floating to the top and water on the bottom. In this new method it is much easier to remix with just a shake. The old way gave me too much solid floating mass that I had to break up but always left chunks. It was ok except if you wanted to drink it straight.
I use a vitamix for mine. I do not think hot water is necessary but might help get some of the oils out. I use Lets Do Organic brand shredded coconut. I had bad luck with my local health food store shredded coconut and it contained sulfites, yuck. Keep up the good work Adrienne, love your blog.
You’re too kind. So glad it’s working better for you. I’m swamped here for about a week then hopefully some more fun basic stuff coming next week – and maybe my essential oils post follow up
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I make my homemade coconut milk a tad differently. I add a whole vanilla bean to 4 c. hot water, 1 c. coconut and let it steep for about 20 minutes. Once the mixture has slightly cooled, I then add it to my blender & blend on high for about a minute. (Please be careful when using hot water as the pressure from the steam may pop the blender lid right off!) I also just use a metal strainer (not cheesecloth) to strain the blended mixture. The cheesecloth could be the reason that you don’t have much of the coconut oil/fat left in the finished product. I use the metal strainer because I want all of the fat to be in my finished product (it will float to the top and harden just a bit when placed into the refrigerator). I scoop out the hardened coconut oil (fat) and store it in a separate jar in the refrigerator and use it in my smoothies
To sweeten my milk I blend in a little bit of honey. It’s sooo delish & way better for you than what you find in the stores. (no chemicals added!) I purchase Raw Organic Coconut shreds (dehydrated, no sulfites used!) from wildernessfamilynaturals.com (I believe they are in MN) they seem to have the best prices that I’ve found and you can buy in bulk which in the long run saves some $.
Happy Blending!
Nice tip. Have you checked Green Polka Dot Box’s prices on Wilderness’ coconut shreds? I haven’t compared yet. Here is my post on GPDB:
Hi Adrienne,
do you need to strain the milk after you take it out of the blender?
katy recently posted..Mexican Hot Chocolate
Hi there! I never do. Too
. It works out pretty well!
lazybusyI would never have thought to make my own coconut milk! Great idea.
Joanne recently posted..Ginger Cosmopolitan Cocktail
I’ll have to try this. I don’t know if its just California but natural foods are expensive here! I’ll have to compare Whole Foods to the online sources I saw in the comments…..I love to use coconut cream to make into whipped cream
Christine recently posted..Antique Farm Equipment Galore!
Can the immediately unused portion of this be frozen for later ?
Yes! You can even use it to cool down hot drinks, like my coffee substitute and then it adds coconut milk to it
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Son of a gun ; it actually worked ! Just made my first batch which came out to a full 48 oz. of pure coconut milk ( very few residual particles using cheesecloth ) for roughly $2 bucks and change. Put 16 oz. in the fridge & the remainder in the freezer. All with 8 oz. milk in 16oz. freezer bags since I use 8 oz. per smoothie & to allow for any expansion. Used two different types of dessicated coconut – one very fine & the other medium coarseness. 1:1 ratio water to coconut with the more coarse while the fine required 1.5 water : 1 coconut. Each in a regular old blender, that only takes 5 cups anyway, on high for three minutes. No fuss, no mess & smelled GREAT. Taste test in the morning but so far so good. Thank you for posting this information Adrienne !
You are welcome!
let me know what you think!
Holy cow ; it wasn’t even close ! Home made was smooth, creamy and surpassed anything I expected in the taste department. Actually tasted like coconut as opposed to what we now know is sludge in the can we usually buy. The ingredients I put into my smoothies ( pomegranate juice, greek yogurt, coconut milk & banana ) ran up a hefty grocery bill all by themselves. This put a significant dent in that cost. Next up – experimenting with home made greek yogurt. Thanks again !
Yea!!! Hope to have a nice coconutty treat posted today – and then onto the essential oils sequel.
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Hi there! I stumbled across your link when I was searching for how long coconut milk would last after making it. I’m actually looking to make it not to drink but it mix into a homemade shampoo, I’ve been on the hunt for homemade shampoo recipes that work since being diagnose with a severe fragrance allergy that inhibits me from using what feels like 90% of store bought ones anymore that don’t cost a fortune!! The site that I found the shampoo recipe on http://healthimpactnews.com/2012/homemade-coconut-milk-shampoo-and-body-wash/ said that it would last 2-4 weeks in the shower. Would anyone have any sort of information on this… I was wondering if the coconut milk in it would stay longer because of the other ingredients mixed with it? Thanks for the help! Your blog is fantastic, glad I found it
I wouldn’t think so but I so hope this works for you! If it works would you share please? Thank you!
I will have to give this a try. So it seems that you are first making coconut butter. I have always strained mine and it is a bit of a pain but coconut milk is so addictive.
Not completely – just grinding it to about a powder. But coconut butter would work better. I can’t get c butter w/o using a lot more than 1 cup of coconut.
I made this and did not strain it but now the ice cream I made is gritty so either I did not whiz it enough at some stage or another or I am being fussy! I am remelting it and will strain and refreeze and see what happens!
Hmmm. Well, I hope it works better. I am thinking of putting a new post up that should solve all of this
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I use quite a bit of coconut milk for smoothies and cooking, and am excited to try this! I’m a little confused on my coconut products — is the coconut milk that comes in a can the same as the coconut milk I buy in a box? (brands SoDelicious, Silk, Etc.)
I would check the labels. Many of them have additives — I am guessing that the boxes would have more than the cans.
Have you tried boiling the coconut or soaking it overnight to soften it? That should sort out some of your “grainy” texture and if you can be bothered pop it through a nut milk bag! Hope that helps!
x
thanks! I have another idea as well that I hope to share soon.
I have been meaning to try my go at homemade milk for so long…and you finally just pushed me over! Delicious goodness…so much better! My family goes through so much darn coconut milk, it is a major cost…but @less that $1 for an organic quart, this will be a major savings.
To answer the above reader: The canned varieties are full fat and much richer….most have a gum for thickening, and some use a preservative. The boxed varieties have been thinned significantly with water and most contain cane sugar and the all have gums, and vitamins/minerals added in.
this coconut milk is more thin like the latter!
Also, I tried the coconut butter route for an experiment with similar results…but I preferred both strained through my nut milk bag!
Tessa recently posted..Healthiest Cup of Creamy & Thick Hot Chocolate, Dairy Free
Hmmm..so you didn’t find the coconut butter to be any better?
Can I make coconut flour in my vita mix. I have tried it but maybe i didn’t mix it enough
Ground coconut is different than coconut flour. The directions to make coconut flour can be found on the internet. Maybe I can write a post on it sometime
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I absolutely love your website! I’m so glad I literally stumbled across your site while doing a few searches for vegan types of food items and recipes! I love how healthy you cook and how you share your great ideas about what to buy and what not to buy. The price breakdown on savings is also crucial because eating healthy can be really expensive when first starting out. If you’re a smart consumer and do your due diligent research before shopping – you end up saving more money. Your site is all encompassing which is great because I’m not jumping around from site to site having to remember what I was searching for. Your site is well organized and you link to your other recipes which I love! Thank you for taking the time to put this together and sharing it with the rest of us for free
Thank you!!! I have felt my site wasn’t organized enough so I really appreciate this! Hope to see you around again!
Does anyone give this coconut milk to thier toddlers/children? I’m just learning about the synthetic vitamins added to Silk and So Delicious brands and it makes me cringe thinking that I’ve been giving it to my child!! Trying to use healthier/organic alternatives seems to have backfired! I’m desperate to find ways to get enough fat, protein, calcium, vitamin D and other vitamins into a 25 month old!
I am sure they do – I give it to my kids. Of course, breastmilk is best as long as possible, in my opinion, but I never bought the packaged milks.
My 2-year-old and I made this together yesterday afternoon…and already need to make a new batch for this evening. He is still nursing at least 3 – 4 times a day, and otherwise drinks either water or one of our variety of homemade “milks” throughout the day — almond, cashew, walnut, coconut, or oat. (Tried sunflower milk; I love it, but that’s the only one he doesn’t like so far. ) Our pediatrician recommends avoiding daily intake of rice and soy milks/products and keeping others on rotation.
This is fine but there is simply NOTHING like using coconut meat and coconut water and blending! May take a little longer but superior in taste and texture.